Metering control mechanism



March 26, 1935. Q E, p s 1,995,342

METERING CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 16} 1951 F7.4 jug i w Z I if i "x L g W 1 fi\ l/l INVENTOR. W .DI'RKEs ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES METERING CONTROL MECHANISM Carl E. Dirkes, Detroit,

Mich.,. assignor to The Farval Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation 01' Ohio Application May 16, 1931; Serial No. 537,976

7 Claims. (01. 184-7) My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a metering control mechanism adapted for use for controlling the passage of 'fiowable material from a supply container to a delivery conduit, and is particularly adapted for controlling the flow of grease, oils and similar material for lubricating purposes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a control mechanism of this class in which a predetermined amount of flowable material may be transmitted at eachoperation to a delivery conduit and in which the maximum capacity of the metering or measuring cup or piston may be utilized. v

Another object of the invention is the provision of a control mechanism of this class in which an easy and quick adjustment of the mechanism may be effected to regulate and determine the predetermined amounts of material which are transmitted to the delivery conduit.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a control mechanism of this class which will be simple in structure, economical .01 manufacture, durable, compact, highly efficient in use, easily and quickly installed, and possessed of a minimum number of parts.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a control mechanism of this class which may be constructed or arranged as an individual unit or in batteries consisting of several units.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this class wherein a single control mechanism may be utilized for delivering flowable'material such as lubricant in definitely measured or metered amounts to aplurality of Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on 1ine-22 of, Fig. v 1.-

Fig. 3 is a central sectional view of the invention, illustrating its adaptation and co-operation with a pair of independent delivery conduits, and taken on substantially line 3-3 of Fig'. 4.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 -is a top plan view with parts broken away and parts shown in section, illustrating the invention adapted for use with a plurality of units as a battery.

Fig. 6 is a' view talsenon line -6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view taken on line 7-7 of Fig.5.

I provide a base 9 on which is mounted and preferably formed integral therewith, a measuring cup or metering container or cylinder 10 having the end walls closed by the plugs 11 and 12 and in which is slidably mounted the loose piston able material such as lubricant, oil, gasoline, etc;

into the passage 15. A nipple 19 is formed at the opposite end of the base 9 and communicates with the passage 15. Threaded onto the nipple 19 is a tube 20. Communicating preferably centrally with .the passage 15 is a nipple 21 to which is attached one end of the outlet delivery tube 22, the tubes 17 and 20 being termed inlet delivery tubes. Slidably mounted in the passage 15 is a slide valve consisting of the valve head 23 which is connected by the stem 24 to the valve head 25, these valve'heads being spaced apart proportionately to the space between the passages 14 and 18. v

-In operation, the outlet delivery tube 22 would be connected to the point at which it is desired to deliver the flowable material and in the event that the device is used for lubricating purposes,

the tube 22 would be so connected as to discharge at the hearing or other support desired to be lubricated. .This mechanism is what may be termed a two-pipe lubricant control system, and

when flowable material is forced through the tube 1'7 and through the nipple 16 into the passage 15, the slide; valve will be so moved by this pressure as to establish communication between the passage 14 and the. tube 17 and so as to establish communication between the passage 18 and the outlet delivery tube 22. As the delivery of material through the tube 1'? is efifected, the material will be forced behind the piston 13 and cause it to travel in the cylinder or measuring cup 10, thus forcing outwardly through the passages 15 and 18, and the tube 22, a predetermined amount of lubricant which is contained'within the cylinder or measuring cup 10. When the piston has moved to the side of the cylinder or measuring cup 10 opposite to that shown in Fig.

1, further delivery of flowable material through the tube 1'7 into the cylinder 10 is rendered impossible. The pressure ior forcing the lubricant through the pipes may be alternately applied to the pipes 17.and 20. In the next operation, the lubricant or flowable material-would b delivered through the tube 20 into the passage 15, thus forcing the slide'valve to the oppositeside of the passage 15 so as to establish communication between the outlet tube 22 and the passage 14 and so as to establish communication between the passage 18 and the tube 20. Further delivery or.

material through the tube 20 into the passage 15 will force outwardly the lubricant or flowable material through the tube 22 by causing the piston 13 to travel again to the position shown in Fig. 1, and thus fill the measuring cup or cylinder with the material. It is believed obvious that the operation of the device is a simple and 10 eilective one whereby the predetermined amount of material may be delivered through the outlet delivery tube.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the base 26 provided with a passage 28 which establishes communication between the inlet delivery pipe 27 and the passage 29. This passage 29 communicates with the interior of the cylinder 31 through the openings 30 and 36. Slidably mounted in the cylinder or measuring cup 31 is a loose piston 32.

Threaded through one end of the cylinder is an adjusting screw 33 which may be projected into the cylinder so as to limit the movement or the piston 32 and determine-its length of travel in the cylinder 31. A similar adjusting screw 34 L5 is threaded in the piston at the side opposite to 30 flowable material transmitted at each operation of the device determined. The end of the cylinder opposite to the screw 33 is closed by,the plug 35.

Slidably positioned in the passage 29 is, the

35 valve head 37 projected outwardly irom one end of which is the stem 38 adapted for engaging the valve head 39 which is loosely positioned in the passage 29 and connected in spaced relation by the stem 40 to the valve head 41. The valve 40 heads 37 and 41 are spaced apart a distance substantially the same as the space between the openings 30 and 36.

An inlet delivery pipe or conduit 42 communicat'es through the passage or opening 43 with the 45 passage 29. An outlet delivery pipe or conduit 44 communicates with the passage 29 through the passage or opening 45. An outlet delivery pipe 46 communicates throughthe opening or passage 47 with ,the passage 29. Communicatingwith 50 each of the passages 45 and 4'1 is a passage 48 which terminates in the recess 48' :in which is normally threaded the plug 49. In operation, when the device is first installed, it will be necessary that the outlet delivery pipes 44 and 46 55 be filled with the lubricant or other material which it is desired to deliver to a definite location or spot. To do this it is but necessary to remove the plug 49 and attach a proper fitting in the recess 48 and fill the outlet delivery pipes 60 44 and 46 before starting the operation of the device itself. Pressure is alternately applied to the lubricant in pipes 27 and 42 and it is evident that delivering material through the pipe 27 into the passage 29 will serve to move the piston 32 66 to the leit and force the contents 0'! the cylinder 31 outwardly through the opening 36 and the passage 29 into the outlet pipe 44. A delivery of material through the pipe 42 will move the slide valve structure to the right so as to. estab- 7 lish communication betweenthe interior of the cylinder 31 and the outlet pipe 48 and continued delivery 01' material through the pipe 42 will cause the piston 32 to move to the right, forcing the contents of the cylinder 31 outwardly 75 through the outlet delivery pipe 46. Thus the single structure which will serve for lubricatin a pair of bearings alternately.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the base 49 provided at its opposite sides with parallel extending passages 50 and 51 each communicating with the inlet delivery pipes 52 and 53', respectively into Mounted on this base 49' and extending transversely or the passages 50 and 51 in parallel re- 'which pressure may be applied alternately.-

with the passages 50 and 51. The passages 57 also communicate at their center with an outlet delivery pipe 63. Slidably mounted in the passage 5'7 are the valve-heads 58 and 60 which are maintained in spaced relation by the rod or stem 59, these valve heads bearing a relation to the space separating the openings or passages 61 and.62 establish communication between the interior of the cylinders 53 and the passage 57, these valve heads being the same distance apart as are the openings 61 and 62.

In operation, when a lubricant or flowable material is delivered into the passage 51 through the inlet delivery pipe 53', the valve heads will be moved into the position shown in Fig. '7 and also as shown in Fig. 5, for'the first cylinder from the right. The material will then pass into the cylinder or measuring cup 53 through the opening or passage 61 causing the piston 56 to travel in the cylinder and force the contents thereof outwardly through the outlet delivery pipe 83. This movement will be successive to a considera successive order as shown in Fig. 5. In this way, with a single valve housing or construction, I have provided a plurality of controls each operating in connection with an outlet delivery DiP In installing the invention, the valve mechanism may be located near the part to be lubricated or it may be located at any desired distance from the hearing as the outlet delivery pipe may be lengthened or shortened when the installation is made. It will be noted that the branch may end at any point, and that no return pipe for the lubrication is required. This feature renders the device easy to install as-well as reducing the cost thereof. It will also be noted that there are no springs used in the invention and thepressure is limited only by the strength of materials used and no check valves are required.

No quick or extra high pressure for initial movement of the valve mechanism is required and there is no loss of pressure between the valves except that resulting from the friction of the delivery sure at the discharge end of the outlet pipe as there is at the source of pressure.

able extent when the cylinders are arranged in i tubes so that there is substantially the same pres- Patent is:

of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims. 1 Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 1. A device for dispensing substantially uniform charges of fluid lubricant or the like, comprising a cylinder, a free piston therein, a valve chamber having ports connecting into opposite ends of the cylinder; a lubricant inlet conduit leading into the valve chamber, another lubricant inlet lead-v one position opens one of the ports between the cylinder, a free piston therein, a valve chamber,-

a port, leading from each end of the cylinder into the valve chamber, a shiftable valve member in the chamber having two valve parts, two lubricant inlet conduits leading into the chamber, lubricant outlet means leading from the chamber, said valve member being shiftable by lubricant under pressure from one inlet conduit to open a port connecting the cylinder to said conduit, and with one valve part closing off said inlet conduit and the outlet means, and with the other valve part closing off the other inlet conduit and opening the port connecting the opposite end of the cylinder to the outlet means, said valve member being shiftable by lubricant under pressure from an inlet conduit before said inlet conduit is connected to the cylinder.

. 3. A device for discharging quantities of lubricant or the like comprising, a cylinder, a free piston therein, a valve chamber, a valve movable therein, ports connecting the valve chamber to pressure is applied to the other inlet conduit and adapted to stop by abutment against the opposite endsof the cylinder and chamber to stop the flow by reason of said pressure.

4. A device for discharging quantities of lubricant or the like comprising, a cylinder, a free piston-therein, a valve chamber, a shiftable valve in the chamber, ports connecting the valve chamber to opposite ends of the cylinder, alubricant inlet conduit connecting into each end of the valve chamber, lubricant outlet means connecting into the valve chamber, said valve being shiftable by lubricant under pressure to open a port and allow said lubricant to flow into the cylinder and shift the piston, said piston and valve both being stopped by abutment against the ends of the cylinder and chamber to terminate the flow under pressure, said valve and piston reversely moving when pressure is applied to the other inlet conduit and beingktopped by abutment against the oppo'-' site ends of the cylinder and chamber to stop the flow by reason of said pressure, said valve alternately connecting opposite ends with the outlet means.

5. A device for discharging quantities of lubri- I cant or the'like comprising, a cylinder, a piston therein, a valve cylinder, a shiftable valve member therein, ports connecting the valve cylinder and first mentioned cylinder, two lubricant-inlet conduits connecting, respectively, into opposite of the cylinder ends of the valve cylinder, one lubricant outlet,

conduit connecting into the valve cylinder intermediate its ends, said valve member being shiftable by lubricant under pressure from an inlet conduit, and said inlet conduits being adapted to have pressure alternately applied, said valve member being shiftable by pressure prior to admission of lubricant under said pressure into the cylinder, and. said piston being shiftable by said pressure whereby the piston and valve member stop .by abutment against the ends 0; theirre- '6. A device for discharging quantities of lubricant or the like comprising, a cylinder, a piston therein, a valve cylinder, a shiftable valve mem ber therein, ports connecting the valve cylinder and first mentioned cylinder, two lubricant inlet conduits connecting, respectively, into opposite ends of the valve cylinder, a pair of lubricant out-. let conduits connecting into the valve cylinder intermediate its ends,,said valve member being shiftable by lubricant under pressure from an inlet conduit, and said inlet conduits being adapted to have pressure alternately applied, said valve member being shiftable by pressure prior to, admission of lubricant under said pressure into the cylinder, and said piston being shiftable by said pressure whereby the piston and valve mem ber stop'by abutment against the ends of their respective cylinders and terminate the flowv of lubricant under said pressure from either conduit, said valve member having valve parts arranged to alternately connect opposite ,ends of said cylinder to one of said outlet conduits only.

'7. A'ieeder for lubricating bearings comprising an outer casing, ameasuring chamber a piston adapted to reciprocate in said measuring chamber, a valve chamber having two inlet ports adapted for fluid connection with two 'sources of lubricant supply, communicating passageways between said valve chamber and' each end of said measuring chamber, an outlet port communicating with said valve chamber and adapted to be port and to direct lubricant into' said measuring chamber on one side of its piston and to force said piston to discharge lubricant from said measuring-chamber on the-other side of. said,

piston.

CARL E. DIRKES. 

